ABOUT YOUR TRIP

Pack your bags for the experience of a lifetime as you journey to Quito, Ecuador.  

Home to the Amazon River, Andes Mountains, and the Galapagos Islands; Ecuador is the perfect backdrop for your South American adventure. Your ministry will begin in the capital city of Quito, Ecuador where you will participate in a variety of creative outreaches.  As a team you will minister in places such as jails, orphanages, parks, plazas, college campuses and schools. As you bring hope to the people of Ecuador you will return home with a deeper sense of purpose, a love for people, and a greater passion for God.

Take a peek at this amazing nation and check out the "All You Need is Ecuador" campaign video put out last year by the Ecuadorian Department of Tourism:

 

ECUADOR FACTS

Capital: Quito

Elevation:  9,350 feet.

Population: Quito 2.23 Million. Total nation: 15.74 Million.

Religion: 95% Catholic. 5% other or atheist.

Weather: Quito is a very temperate climate (Think San Diego with a little more chilly evenings.) The temperature ranges from a low of 40 degrees in the mornings and evenings to a high of 85 in the afternoons. The running joke among the locals about the weather is that they have all four seasons in one day.

Currency: US Dollar

Language: Spanish and Quechua (various dialects)

Vaccines: There are no required vaccines to visit Ecuador however, the State Department recommends that you be up to date on all of your basic inoculations. For additional recommendations please refer to the Center for Disease Control website and consult with your personal health care provider for updated information on what vaccines you may desire for the trip.

Payments

Trip Price:  $2,500*

*Price does not include: Passport fees, spending money, vaccines, or souvenirs.

Payment DATES

              

Payment 1:           January 15th     $250

Payment 2:           February 15th   $500 

Payment 3:           March 15th       $500 

Payment 4:           April 15th          $500

Payment 5:           May 15th          $750

 

 

We understand that often the most difficult part of any endeavor such as this is raising the funds. We recognize that taking the first financial step is always the hardest but we have found that when people remain faithful and committed throughout the process their funds come in. Don’t let the seeming enormity of what has to be raised paralyze you. Take small steps daily and you will accomplish your fundraising goal.

There are two ways that people can make donations to your account (All donations are tax deductible regardless of payment method):

1). Online: For your convenience we’ve provided you with an online crowdfunding platform to aid you in your fundraising efforts. You can create your own fundraising profile that is equipped with progress bars so donors can see where you are at in your fundraising campaign. This platform also allows donors to donate on a monthly basis to your trip.

To get started collecting funds online, CLICK HERE and then click the "Create Fundraising Page" button. From there just follow the prompts. You'll notice that there is already some template content provided to you. Please update and personalize your page.  Once you have created your fundraising page you can link it to blogs, social networks, and eblasts. These funds will be deposited directly into your YNG Ecuador account.

2). Checks: Donors can make donations to your account by making checks payable to Go International. Any cash donations you receive will need to be converted to a money order or check. Instruct donors to send checks directly to you. Mail the checks along with any other donations to: Go International, PO Box 701711, Tulsa, OK 74170. With each group of checks sent to Go International you will need to mail a completed “Go International Payment Slip”. This ensures that your funds will be credited to your account.

Fundraising

In addition to using the crowdfunding platform you may choose to do some traditional fundraising as well. Fundraisers are a great way to raise money for your trip and get people involved in what you are doing.  Below are some helpful guidelines that will make fundraising as successful as it can be for you.  

Always have a goal in mind. If you are going to have a car wash don’t just stand there with buckets in hand, set a goal. As people drive by hold signs that say, “Help us meet our goal of washing 50 cars today”! If you are selling something, ask people to meet a specific goal: draw a big thermometer and color it in as the goals are being met. This gives people a direct place to get involved.

Be creative! Creativity is the key to successful fundraising.  Ask God for innovative ideas and strategic ways to raise the money for your trip.  

Pray.  Thank God for supplying all that you need and for surrounding you with favor.

(Click here to SEE MORE FUNDRAISING IDEAS)

EASY-GLANCE CHECKLIST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE

__ All Payments Have Been Made

__ All Packing List Items Are Packed

__ Medical Forms Have Been Turned In

__ Travel Release Forms Have Been Turned In

__ Passport Copies Have Been Turned in

__ I have in my possession:

  • Passport

  • Spending Money

  • Medical Forms

 

 

packing list

For travel, you are permitted one suitcase for your personal items of 50 LBS or less, one carry-on bag that must meet federal regulations, and one personal item. Go International cannot be held responsible for baggage fees or lost or stolen baggage. Check with your airline to see if additional baggage charges apply.  

General info about what to wear: Wear what you normally wear with the understanding that there may be some occasions where specific dress code may be needed for cultural sensitivity. Bring one or two outfits that you can get dirty as we may do some construction/painting for outreach. We have outlined the specific outreaches below so you can pack better!

Please note a few things about Ecuador weather: You will be high in the mountains right on the equator.  It is very easy to get sunburned so you may want to consider bringing a hat and sunscreen because it is so easy to burn.  The weather can change rapidly as it goes behind the sun and mountains.  The temperature in one day can range from 50-85 degrees. We encourage you to wear short sleeves and always bring a light to medium jacket with you wherever you go.  You may want to pack a small umbrella or poncho in case it rains. 

For our Ministry Events you will need to pack:

Art Campaigns:

  • Black t-shirt (You will wear this several times during the trip)

  • White t-shirt (You will wear this several times during the trip)

  • Dark Blue Jeans (You will wear these jeans with each of the shirts listed above so you may want to pack several for the trip)
     
  • One dark jacket or sweatshirt that you can wear in case it is cold during our art campaign
     
  • Girls: One red lipstick

Children's outreaches:

  • One bright neon shirt or Primary colored T-shirt (You will wear this several times during the trip)

Work Projects:

  • One set of clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or ruined. (You will wear this 1-2 times during the trip) 

Special Events:

  • Girls: Pack one outfit that you would wear for a nice dinner. (Please dress modestly.)
  • Guys: nice jeans or slacks, dress shirt, button up, or black polo.

Free day: We will have the opportunity to travel outside of Quito for our free day.  For this portion of the trip you can participate in a variety of adventure excursions.  These excursions are at your discretion and not included in the price of your trip- you will want to bring a little extra spending money if you choose to participate.  For these activities here are some suggested items you may want to pack:

  • Water excursions: Water shoes, flip flops, Swim suit and towel
  • Adventure excursions: (Hiking, zip-lining etc): Long pants, hiking shoes or shoes you can climb in, bug spray. 

Other items to pack:

  • Daily Attire (pants/shirts/sweaters/jackets that you would normally wear in the US for 50-70 degree weather. Please dress modestly.)

  • Towels & Washcloths (These will be provided to you by the hotel but you may want to pack a few extra for your free day.)  

  • Toiletries (We recommend that you pack all your liquid toiletry items in Ziplock bags or seal closed with packing tape; liquids have a tendency to explode during flights due to air pressure.)

  • Bible

  • Notebook and pens

  • You may want to pack a small Umbrella

  • Sunscreen with a SPF of 50 or higher 

  • Antibacterial gel

  • Water Bottle (you will use this everyday)

  • Swimsuit and towel for free day activities that you may get wet doing. 

  • Tennis shoes and/or boots for walking

  • Warm coat (evenings can get chilly in Quito and surrounding areas.  Most evenings the temperature is around 50 degrees, but it can dip as low as 30-40 degrees.

  • Ibuprofen: If you use this item you will want to bring it with you. Ibuprofen cannot be purchased in Ecuador without a prescription.

  • Bug Spray

Optional Packing List

  • Camera

  • Sunglasses

  • Hat

  • Modest Shorts

  • Sweaters and or light jacket

  • Flashlight

Ministry Supplies

As team members, you will have the opportunity to minister to many children in a variety of activities.  We will be doing a lot of ministry with children ages 5-12 years old.  Feel free to pack the following items:

  • Water balloons

  • Candy

  • Face paints

  • Small toys or prizes

  • Inflatable beach balls

  • School supplies for children/office supplies (Ex: white out, post-its, clipboards, ultra bright colored etc.)

  • Tablets, pens, pencils, little toys and prizes

  • Small sizes of shoes and children’s clothing

  • Toiletries soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, face and hand creams.  These will also be beneficial to donate to the medical clinics we will be doing there.

Suggestion: To get donations for this outreach, set up a suitcase at your local church and hang a sign listing the items that you would like to collect.

Prayer

As you prepare for your trip, the most important thing that you can do is pray. Prayer really does make all the difference, so during the days or weeks before your trip, begin to prepare your heart. Here is a list of some topics you can begin to pray about:

  • Favor with government officials

  • Missionary contacts with whom we will be working

  • The leadership on the trip

  • All your finances to come in

  • That your life will be changed forever

  • Decisions for Christ that last

  • Peaceful sleep

  • Strength and health for all team members

Spanish TOOLS


There are many technological tools available to help you learn a new language. Here are a few of our favorites: